Former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Tip O’Neil once said, “All politics is local.” Rheumatologists and rheumatology professionals can put this knowledge to good use. Meet your state representatives, and offer to become a resource on patient care concerns for them. Contact the influencers at your state medical society, and offer the same. Join the ACR advocacy Google group to keep up with issues around the country. Spend a few minutes talking to motivated patients. They can join you at the Legislative Action Center to write letters to legislators about the issues of importance to rheumatology.
Remember: Advocacy is a team sport, and—now more than ever—we need rheumatologists and patients to get off the bench and on the playing field.
Christopher D. Adams, MD, FACP, FACR, is chief of rheumatology for the East Alabama Rheumatology Center in Auburn/Opelika. His experience includes military medical practice (including health delivery logistics), clinical faculty at several medical schools, conducting clinical research and serving as the governmental affairs and managed care liaison for the Alabama Society for the Rheumatic Diseases. Dr. Adams is also the chair of the ACR’s Affiliate Society Council.
Joseph Cantrell, JD, is the senior manager of state affairs for the ACR.
